Vasa - Master of Light and Geometric Acrylic Sculptures
Vasa (Velizar Mihich) is a Serbian-born American artist celebrated for his groundbreaking work in the field of geometric abstraction and acrylic sculpture. Born in 1933 in what was then Yugoslavia, Vasa developed an early interest in color, light, and form—elements that would later define his distinctive artistic language. After earning his Master's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Belgrade, he immigrated to the United States in 1960, settling in Los Angeles at a time when the West Coast was emerging as a hub for experimental art and design. His transition to the U.S. marked the beginning of a career that would merge European constructivist traditions with the bold, luminous aesthetics of Southern California minimalism.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Vasa became known for his innovative use of industrial materials—most notably cast acrylic and epoxy resin. His precisely engineered sculptures, often composed of translucent and transparent cubes, spheres, and columns, use color as a spatial force rather than a surface treatment. By embedding hues within clear acrylic forms, Vasa manipulates the way light travels and refracts, creating works that shift in tone and intensity depending on the viewer's position and the surrounding environment. This exploration of color, light, and perception aligns his work with the Light and Space movement, yet his geometric precision and mathematical rigor give his art a distinctive identity within that context.
In addition to his sculpture, Vasa has produced vibrant wall reliefs, prints, and mixed-media works that extend his study of visual relationships and optical depth. His creations exemplify a harmony between art, architecture, and science, and his studio practice often involves a synthesis of engineering and fine craftsmanship. Vasa's works are included in numerous public and private collections worldwide, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. His meticulous approach and commitment to material innovation have made him a respected figure among both artists and industrial designers.
Beyond his studio practice, Vasa has been an influential educator, serving as a professor in the Department of Design at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His teaching and mentorship have inspired generations of artists to view color and form as dynamic, interactive forces rather than static elements. Over the decades, Vasa's work has remained remarkably consistent in its pursuit of purity, precision, and luminosity. His art invites contemplation of how perception is shaped by movement, light, and time—transforming the simple geometry of form into a meditative experience of infinite variation.
